Quote:Twelve MPs are appealing for Newcastle United to reconsider their decision to change the name of St James' Park, calling it "corporate vandalism".

The group signed a Commons motion, condemning the change of name in favour of the Sports Direct Arena.

It says it "deeply regrets" the decision to rebrand the ground and are urging the club to think again.

The club said the change was temporary, hoping it would "showcase" sponsorship opportunities to "interested parties".

The St James' Park signs were removed last week, but graffiti has been sprayed back onto the wall of the stadium twice, in separate instances.

David Anderson, Labour MP for Blaydon, said the club's decision was an "insult" to supporters and "disrespectful" to the region.

"They've got no interest whatsoever in the ordinary football fan," he said.

"They are ignoring the people who have made this the club what it is, who spent more than 100 years building this club up into an icon for our region.


The St James' Park signs were removed from the ground last week
"It is total disrespect for the history and culture of our region."

The motion has been signed by Labour MPs Ian Mearns, Pat Glass, Catherine McKinnell, Chi Onwurah, Nick Brown, Ian Lavery, Dennis Skinner, David Anderson, Mary Glindon, Stephen Hepburn, Alex Cunningham and Sir Alan Meale.

When the club announced the name change last November - Sports Direct is the company of club owner Mike Ashley - Newcastle United fans labelled it a "disgrace", with most refusing to use the new name.

Newcastle City Council backed fans and asked local media organisations not to recognise the Sports Direct Arena name.

The authority has also agreed a motion, stating it has no plans to change any direction signs which bear the name St James' Park.

The club has not commented on the motion by MPs.

Quote:A Newcastle United fan has admitted painting the words "St James" on a wall at the club's ground.

Hours after the St James' Park sign was removed, Michael Atkinson, of Newbiggin Hall, said he had decided to go to the ground to paint the name back on.

He said he was angry that owner Mike Ashley had changed the stadium's name to the Sports Direct Arena.

Mr Atkinson, 29 has been charged with criminal damage and is due before Newcastle magistrates on 7 March.

The old sign was removed by a club worker with a crow bar on Thursday afternoon and Mr Atkinson said he had painted the words St James in white paint in the early hours of Friday.

'Blue lights flashing'
The graffiti was cleaned off on Friday morning. He said: "I was having a laugh with me mates on Facebook and decided to paint St James' on the wall.

"I had just done the St James and was just about to do the apostrophe when I saw the blue lights flashing so obviously I had to quit.

"The police were OK when they arrested me but obviously they cannot condone it.


Michael Atkinson said the name change from St James' Park "wound him up"
"The ground has always been St James' Park and should always be St James'."

Many Newcastle fans say they will continue to call the ground St James' Park.

The club said the change was a temporary measure to "showcase" the sponsorship opportunity to "interested parties".

Managing director Derek Llambias has said stadium rebranding could generate up to £10m a year.

Mr Atkinson added: "I don't understand why he [Mike Ashley] has just pulled the sign off now when he changed the name in November.

"He seems to just like winding the fans up - every time we are doing well he seems to do something to wind us up."